“Thin blood” means blood with a decreased coagulation (clotting) ability. “Thick blood” would mean the opposite – blood with an increased coagulation ability. INR is one of the parameters that is used to measure blood’s coagulation ability. In healthy people INR should be 0.8-1.2. INR under 0.8 means increased coagulation ability (“thicker” blood) and a greater risk for blood clotting (thrombosis). INR above 1.2 means decreased coagulation ability (“thinner” blood) and a greater risk for bleeding.
People that suffer from atherosclerosis have a greater risk for developing thrombosis in their heart or brain arteries which leads to a heart attack or stroke. Such people should take medicines that will decrease the blood’s coagulation ability and keep the INR above 1.2. (2-3 is recommended range for INR in such patients). Aspirin and Plavix decreases platelets’ aggregation ability and thus prevents thrombosis. There are stronger blood “thinners” like warfarin that suppress the production of some coagulation factors in the liver.
A brain stroke can also be due to bleeding inside the brain. If bleeding was caused by your mother’s stroke, blood “thinners” should not be given.
Any anti-coagulation (blood thinning) therapy should be prescribed and monitored by a transfusiologist and neurologist.
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